Who wants a serial plate?

[CoryBee]

Tried my hand at making serial plates, some people said they wanted one or to make a quick picture-tutorial.

They aren't thick, in fact they are just soda can pieces. If anyone wants one I will give it for free, just pay postage (should only be .50¢ to a $1 - or any donations  )

I need at least 4 requests as to not waste any of the sticker paper.

I think they look awesome, some people may not think I did a good job or I should use thicker aluminum (I agree with the thicker part) but they wont break the bank so you decide.

Link to GIMP file to edit

Samples









Crappy lighting



This is for me too, will give me more practice at it. I will also get better aluminum when I come across something worth while to use in the soda cans place.

[DaOld Man]

Thanks CoryDee, great work!
I actually stole the one from DrCheks Project.
I just saved the pic of his plate that he posted and using Paint I modified it to show what I wanted.
It turned out pretty good, except I had a round a bout getting the transparent adhesive paper.
I couldnt find the 8X10 (regular letter size) like the video showed, so I tried transparent shipping labels. (Walmart Avery 38863 2" X 4")
I wasted a lot of regular paper getting the pics to line up with the labels, but I think I finally got it.
Here is a sneak preview:

Edit: To anyone wanting one of these, CoryDee's offer is a good one. They can be a pain getting everything set up, and of course you have to buy a whole pack of the transparent sticker paper.
Good job CoryDee!! 

[CoryBee]

Thanks DaOld Man

I like your rage build, more than a little even, Your serial plate looks great!

What did you use for the aluminum? I will be going thicker, but for now it is a good way to hand out some without needing to ask for much in return,a nd using what I have on hand.

[CoryBee]

Nobody?

Only got one request.....

I shall tilt my head in shame....

[yotsuya]

Can you make me one with Jim Morrison on it? 

[CoryBee]

Can you make me one with Jim Morrison on it? 

Just got done with it.......ah you dick you were messing with me

[yotsuya]

I'd totally take that! Who do I Paypal the $0.50 to?

[CoryBee]

I'd totally take that! Who do I Paypal the $0.50 to?

 

[yotsuya]

[CoryBee]

hahaha

[jammin0]

I'll take a Fix It Felix Jr. one from you.

[CoryBee]

So you bought the fix-it-felix cab on ebay.....for you it will be $1,000

[jammin0]

So you bought the fix-it-felix cab on ebay.....for you it will be $1,000

i wish

[CoryBee]

Touched up

[drventure]

I've been wanting to try my hand at etching a plate like that in brass.

Nicely done.

[CoryBee]

I've been wanting to try my hand at etching a plate like that in brass.

Nicely done.

I wonder how the brass would look like with this technique

[DaOld Man]

The only thing I dont like is the paper, or at least the labels I used, are not exactly clear. Mine have a cloudy look to them. I read internet comments about the full page kind that you are using and I read the same comments about it. Does anyone know of any brands that are purely clear?

[drventure]

With brass, you print the image in reverse with heavy ink on glossy photo paper, then immediately use an iron to transfer it to the brass plate.

Once it's dried, you immerse the plate in an electrolytic solution (I don't remember what) and leave it there as it slowly etches. Takes a few days. There's some projects up on maker and instructables that illustrate it.

Just one of those things I haven't yet got to try myself. But they get some pretty nice results from it.

[CoryBee]

DaOldMan
The cloudy-ness seems to go away when the clear coat soaks into the paper.

Doctor
Seems almost identical to toner transfer pcb etching

anyone else up to help me fill this thing? scotty is already having me do some experimenting

[DaOld Man]

Well, with the labels I used (Avery 38863 Clear easy Peel Shipping Labels),
the cloudiness does not seem to go away when painted with clear enamel (Rust-oleum crystal clear enamel).
I couldnt find the recommended clear coat the video called for, so I used the clear enamel, which looks very clear when sprayed on the aluminum sheet.
Here are a couple of pics.
First is a label on a white sheet of paper with colored lines running under the label. No clear coat.
You can definitely see the label even against the white sheet background.
The second pic is some more labels I printed out and stuck to the aluminum, then one coat of clear coat.
Both pics taken in bright sunlight.
It would be a lot better if these labels were really clear.

[CoryBee]

Yea those don't look clear at all, maybe a smokey white.....

I used "Avery 18665 Clear Inkjet Labels" and a "Rustoleum Clear Glossy Spray"

When I print these out I am going to make a little tutorial with the same marker thing you did to show how clear. The cloudy-ness in these ones were very minimal.

[DaOld Man]

It would help me a lot if you can post a pic with some left over scrap sticker over the colored bars on white paper. I may have to travel to the big city and get what you are using. I can still use the back of my aluminum sheet for new stickers, if I think it will greatly improve the looks.
Thanks.

[CoryBee]

It would help me a lot if you can post a pic with some left over scrap sticker over the colored bars on white paper. I may have to travel to the big city and get what you are using. I can still use the back of my aluminum sheet for new stickers, if I think it will greatly improve the looks.
Thanks.

Anytime good sir!

I will add that to the experimenting. You don't like the eBay?

Also there isn't enough light in your picture to tell if the aluminum is showing through well.....

[DaOld Man]

Yeah I know, but you can plainly see the edges of the label against the aluminum. The "clear" parts of the label that will remain with the tag after cutting out look the same way.

[Jumpman64]

I could totally use one of these for my planned Jumpman Jr. bartop!  Haven't even finished my first cab and I already have plans for the 2nd...

[CoryBee]

I could totally use one of these for my planned Jumpman Jr. bartop!  Haven't even finished my first cab and I already have plans for the 2nd...

Jumpman eh? Is that an actual game too or just the cab's name? Need a plate? Got two spots open.

[Jumpman64]

I would love one, thanks!  Just not sure what to put on it... how soon do you need the specifics?

Jumpman & Jumpman Jr.  are old C-64 / Atari / Apple IIe, etc. games.  They were inspired by Donkey Kong, though they play very differently.  Many of the levels are essentially puzzles.  Here is a great example:




They're on my short list of all-time favorite C-64 games.  My idea is to build a cabinet as if Jumpman (or, in the case, Jr.) had been an arcade release.  It will be sort of a platformer version of the shmups-focused bartops that seem popular.

[CoryBee]

I see, looks like a hoot    "Jumpman" looks like he is on some crack 

I wanted to make these today, so kind of need them soon....I can always make more later too no problem. But this run will be the cheapest 

Maybe you want a test to see how it will be.....

[Jumpman64]

Ack, okay then... let's see...


Jumpman Junior
Made in USA by Epyx & Randy Glover
Model No. JM-JR-1
Serial No. 000064
(and then all the standard electrical ratings)

Would that work?

[CoryBee]

What do you think? I used the logo from a Jumpman Junior magazine thingy I found on google



Attached is the logo pulled from this magazine thingy Link

Or with the jumpman "man"



Edit: Added little guy

[Jumpman64]

Awesome!  As much as I like the lil jumping graphic, my OCD says to go with the balanced version without it.

[CoryBee]

Awesome!  As much as I like the lil jumping graphic, my OCD says to go with the balanced version without it.

Sounds good 

[matt4949]

Can you make me one with Jim Morrison on it? 

That is HILARIUS.



But for real can you hook me up with one that say's "  METHOD2MYMADNESS  "
PM me or EMAIL me.

[matt4949]

Also I dont know if anyone has mentioned that street signs cut with a metal jigsaw would be perfect media for this plate.

[CoryBee]

PM'd

Cutting aluminum (for me anyway) has left serrated edges, which with my tools are impossible to clean up. So a street sign is pretty thick and I don't know if that is the thickness I would want or the effort to acquire said street sign 

I figure just using some aluminum sheeting from Lowe's or Home Depot will do the trick. Going to plow through these with aluminum cans as to hand out a few to some awesome BYOAC fellas.

[BobA]

Just a heads up   In the USA and Canada it is 60 Hz

[CoryBee]

Just a heads up   In the USA and Canada it is 60 Hz

Thanks!

Edit: Changed to 60hz

[CoryBee]

Did the experiment for ya scotty boy.

Here are the little guys



Stuck to acrylic, and lighted underneath with an led strip section. Diffused by a piece of printer paper.



Up Close



Stuck on a button, they are meant to be inserts I know. Also scratched it while rubbing it on 

[mcseforsale]

DaOld...you shouldn't have to do anything to get the printer to line up the labels.  Just go to avery's web site and get the template file for the label number and you can download a word processing template (for word or whatever) that will allow you to create your labels correctly.  Then, in word (or whatever), do a file, new then choose from template.

AJ

[PL1]

Did the experiment for ya

Thanks, Cory.

Does the adhesive look wierd/splotchy when you hold it up and look through it without a diffuser?

It's almost impossible to take pictures that show this, so a quick eyeball test + your opinion would be great.

Stuck on a button, they are meant to be inserts I know. Also scratched it while rubbing it on

Hard to avoid scratching the printing when even the ridges of your fingerprints can do that.

I use this method to keep from doing that with inserts on transparency media.

You might be able to laminate another layer of label over the printed part before applying it to the button if you want to use them on normal buttons.   


Scott